No Farm Bill Means Less Ag Innovation, Rural Development

Based on scant column inches on the topic in blog posts and newsletters, few within the general economic development and innovation circles seem to have noted what expiration of the Farm Bill could mean for agricultural research, energy innovation and rural economic development. Programs supporting regional innovation strategies and R&D grants are caught in the debate over cuts to food stamps, crop subsidies and farmers' safety net after disasters like the nearly nationwide drought of this past summer. The result could mean greater competition for an ever shrinking pool of federal resources.

Programs typically authorized and reauthorized through the massive legislation every five years expired with the beginning of the current federal fiscal year, Oct 1. Titles VI and VII of the act are concerned with Rural Development and Research, respectively. Programs affected include:

• Rural Business Opportunity Grants
• Rural Business Enterprise Grants
• Business and Industry Direct and Guaranteed Loan Program
• Broadband Program
• Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants & Loans
• Rural Cooperative Development Grants
• Rural Microenterprise Assistance Program
• Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas Program
• Value-Added Producers Grant Program
• Specialty Crop Research Initiative
• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
• University Research and Extension Service
• Organic Research Initiative
• Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture

At this point, the 2012 Farm Bill's future is closely tied to negotiations for addressing the broader federal budget deficit and lapsing tax credits/cuts. Most reports suggest a short-term extension of the 2008 Farm Bill is the most likely outcome, if any, given the few remaining weeks of the 112th Congress. Lacking that, state and regional TBED efforts would seem to face yet another major obstacle in advancing innovation and competitiveness as they plan their 2013 activities.